Europe risks becoming 'museum of world agriculture' because of aversion to genetic engineering

Europe is mired in a “shallow debate” around GM technology while the rest of the world benefits from advances in farm technology, a new report has concluded.

The report, “Cultivating the Future”, was published by the Agricultural Biotechnology Council on December 14 to mark the 20th anniversary of the commercialisation of GM crops.

The report highlights the vital role that GM crops have played over the last 20 years in reducing waste and increasing yields and how crucial it is that farmers have access to technology in the future.

[I]t says agriculture is on the verge of a new range of tools developed from advances in genetic knowledge and technology.

But the report concludes that the “prolonged and shallow debate” around GM crops in Europe the last two decades is unsustainable – and risks imposing a great cost on farms and on the environment.

With consumers predicted to demand 70% more food by 2050, the authors warn that there is no time to waste.

But Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil Association, branded the report as “familiar, old propaganda. ...There is not a single voice from food retailers or caterers calling for GM food, even after the 20 glorious years that this report claims for this outdated and failing technology.